Yes, but is the Net Zero economy the real answer?—Part 1/3

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Summary of "Yes, but is the Net Zero economy the real answer?—Part 1/3"

1. Introduction
2. Real questions deserve real answers—a three-part series to help us embrace the critical role of sustainability in our increasingly global economy and make better decisions:

• Yes, but is Net Zero the answer needed?—part 1/3 (this week's review)
• Yes, but is our society built to develop sustainable solutions? (publication on October 11, 2021)—part 2/3
• Yes, but what are we optimizing for? (publication on October 18, 2021)—part 3/3

1. Yes, but is Net Zero the answer needed?
2. Conclusion
3. The Road to Sustainability webinar series ??
4. Join the community and discussion using the framework for sustainability conversations (+ daily insights, incubation program)
5. Weekly highlights
6. Visual of the week
7. Nevelab Technologies Business Partner Program
8. Our world in data: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
9. Resources and archives

11. Podcast: "Corporate leadership, social interactions, and the future of work" series with Sara Murdock, Ph.D.?

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1. Introduction

We are what we repeatedly do.—Aristotle

One of the major tasks of our century is to foster a sustainability shift toward patterns of growth that enhance human wellbeing while protecting the planet's life support systems. For the past year—through this very review—we've demonstrated how critical are science and technology to support society's attempts to facilitate such a paradigm shift.

Yes, but we will have to get over our reluctance to assess where we should better invest.?

We'd start by fixing previous mistakes and weaknesses that are still staining on our way to overcome the earlier fragmented approaches and try to solve the biggest problems of our era.

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2. Real questions deserve real answers

The sustainability agenda is not standing still. It is more than ever critical to discuss how investment links to new thinking behind budget allocation towards value-chains, life-cycle management, sustainable consumption, and corporate social responsibility.?

A three-part series to help us embrace the critical role of sustainability in our increasingly global economy and make better decisions:

• Yes, but is Net Zero the answer needed? (in today's review)
• Yes, but is our society built to develop sustainable solutions? (publication on October 11, 2021)
• Yes, but what are we optimizing for? (publication on October 18, 2021)

The political agenda has shifted; it is no longer acceptable to blame someone upstream for flaws in the products distributed on the market or the environmental consequences they may have created. By incorporating sustainability criteria into buying procedures, decision-makers can take a preventative strategy that results in fewer liability risks and improved operational efficiency, and, increasingly, new product creation.

And because of the many issues businesses encounter, the operating methods of their suppliers and subcontractors have to be profoundly reviewed and changed, whether it is decisions made in labor practices, chemical content, or the impact on communities and natural ecosystems.

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3. Yes, but is Net Zero the answer needed?

3.1—Globally, before the 1800s, CO2 emissions were almost zero.

2020 was the hottest year on record, effectively tying 2016, the previous record. Overall, Earth's average temperature has risen more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the Industrial Revolution, before exploding in the mid-20th century as we began to drive rapid economic growth by deploying in earnest our growing technological know-how. Between 1950 and 1990, annual CO2 emissions quadrupled. And while year-on-year emissions increases have slowed in the years since, they continue to rise all too quickly.

? You can explore further charts and stats at the bottom of each review, section "Our world in data: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)."

It is now opportune to review the state of the world: many firms and, more widely, sectors are still far from getting aligned with the Paris Agreement, which is one of the industry's most critical problems when investing with a net-zero perspective. Allow me to ask, is the Paris Agreement the real deal?

After years of publicly dismissing the "combat" against climate change, governments and organizations are pushing—regardless of how quick transitions occur—for increased investments and usage of renewable energy sources. Yes, but is Net Zero the answer needed?

The shift in thinking means nations to come to the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow in November with concrete engagements to synchronize their efforts toward climate issues.??

For example, a month ago, the Biden administration announced that they plan to bring the US' electricity to 100% clean electricity by 2035 and build a zero-emissions economy by 2050. This would translate to increased government spending on clean energy infrastructure and projects

The accumulation of crises could also spark serious backlashes against net-zero emissions targets and renewable energy. Pressures are increasing on decision-makers about their ESG labeled investment funds to demonstrate their trust and guarantee customers on their accountability or credential. Many are raising questions on their ability to neutralize climate-related financial exposure.

?It should be the core of every single company's investment philosophy and vision.??

3.2—Carbon emissions and climate change have resulted in significant financial risks for companies.

A search on Google "Net Zero" gives about 1,830,000,000 results, "climate change" is ten times more. Both topics are part of major global concerns. These times are also highly challenging for investors. While there are tools available to assist businesses, such as a toolkit for corporations to facilitate the application of sustainable practices, carbon footprint analysis, or ESG reporting, there are not the most optimized to make decisions. A more forward-thinking approach is required, but identifying the appropriate route to generate answers is difficult.??

From an investing standpoint, this can result in a wide range of risk exposure. Because of the massive changes that are coming, only firms who completely redesign their business models and adapt drastically will tackle the transition. There will be winners and losers, just as in the Squid Game. As we witness the everyday consequences of climate change and weather disasters, it is apparent that the clear climate is a common concern shared by everyone. But who should be held accountable? Who is to blame for the failure to remedy or minimize such risks? And how can we address these issues?

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4. Conclusion

Net-zero investing will be on the top of the mind of the investment world within the year to come. More than anything else, what will differentiate decision-makers who explore maximum potential from those who don’t is their willingness to look at their capacity to examine various endowments and opportunities. Their approach to net-zero objectives is focused on transition, and they try to understand the root causes standing in their way.

To identify businesses—such as solution providers, transitioning companies, and those adapting to a changing climate—that are already profitable and well-positioned to take advantage of the growth opportunities pillars: resource efficiency, outcome-oriented consumption, circular bio-economy, and zero waste.

The sustainability revolution has begun, accompanied by the emergence of a new economic epoch. Decision-makers must be convinced that sustainability is the best approach to produce long-term rewards and expand prosperity.

Throughout our activities at Nevelab Technologies, we’ve aspired to agile methodologies and define trajectories by focusing not only on a company’s performance as of today but the pace of its transformation and an assessment of that transformation’s financial implications.

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5.?The Road to Sustainability webinar series

This new series will be broadcasted on our YouTube channel every Monday through 5 meetings from October 11th to November 15th, with a possible extension of the agenda.

Register here to get updates and content:?https://event.theroadtosustainability.com.

We will take the opportunity to explore in-depth the framework for sustainability conversations. You can find resources here:?A Fork in The Road to Sustainability.

The following schedule is based on our approach "roadmap and product management--the new framework for sustainability conversations." The sessions have an informative purpose and constitute sets of criteria to help organizations in their operations towards sustainability:

- Prioritizing open governance and compliance, October 11th, 2021

- Making value chains, supply chains, and operations sustainable, October 18th, 2021

- Rethink the work-life balance and place, October 25th, 2021

- Designing sustainable products and services, November 1st, 2021

- Developing new business models, November 8th, 2021

- Creating following sustainability practice platforms, November 15th, 2021

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6. Join the discussion using the framework for sustainability?conversations

As we intend to understand how we can reinforce what we’ve been attempting to eradicate harmful practices for so long, we’ve built our framework where we can find data to lead to better strategic decisions. We've created this venue to host discussions around sustainability and efficiency.

A five-pronged approach to help organizations achieve improved performance through attention to environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance.?

? Please, join the discussion.

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7. Weekly highlights

• What if we don't invest in Natural Capital?—Link to the review [here].
• The Non-Zero-Sum Game: Achieving Net-Zero Emissions—Link to the review [here].
• Climate impact. Are the consequences of a ? baked decision that we created (the mess we are in)2—Link to the review [here].

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8. Visual of the week

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9. Nevelab Technologies Partner Program

With climate change causing investment risks and opportunities through structural changes in almost every sector of the global economy, we believe that any collaboration launched during such turbulent times must benefit from the latest research on sustainability investment to make the best possible corporate strategic decisions.

These collaborations will allow us to engage closely with universities, centers of innovation, and institutions to incorporate the most current knowledge about investments and sustainability, in addition to enabling pioneering research in the sustainability and efficiency areas.

??We partner with world-class technology providers and system integrators to deliver unmatched sustainability innovation tools and value.?

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10. Our world in data:?Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)

• The latest measurement of atmospheric CO2?(as of October 04, 2021): 413.11 ppm; July 2020: 415.00 ppm; 25 years ago: 360 ppm; 250 years ago, est: 250 ppm.
• Methane (CH4) is estimated to have a GWP of 28–36 over 100 years.?
• Nitrous Oxide (N2O) has a GWP 265–298 times CO2 for a 100-year timescale. N2O emitted today has remained in the atmosphere for more than 100 years, on average.

? More critical resources:?Real-time temperature???Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment

? Please consider sharing these numbers with your community by forwarding this email or tweeting?this.

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11. Resources and archives

??An animated presentation on YouTube to better understand sustainability?Introduction to Sustainability by The Road to Sustainability?.

??Daily sustainability insights in your inbox?(special offer).

??Please give?me feedback???Become a partner.

??Archives: the complete list of The Road to Sustainability reviews?

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12. Podcast: "Corporate leadership, social interactions, and the future of work" series with Sara Murdock, Ph.D.?

?? "The controversial topic of leaders and followers. Who are you in reality? Dr. Sara Murdock and Yael Rozencwajg talk about corporate leadership, social interactions, and the future of work—part 7."

It goes without saying that no leader can exist without at least one follower. Nonetheless, the current corporate leadership, now over a quarter-century old, is founded on the premise that leaders and followers matter way differently.

Everyone wants to know what makes leaders tick, whether charming, retiring, or even corrupt. Good followership, on the other hand, is more subjective. The majority of the scant study and writing on subordinates has tended to either explain their conduct in the context of leaders' growth rather than followers' or to believe that followers are incorrectly amplified.?

You can listen to The Road to Sustainability? Podcast on your favorite streamer?Anchor?-?Apple Podcasts?-?Breaker?-?GooglePodcasts?-?Spotify?-?YouTube?-?SoundCloud.

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At?Nevelab Technologies,?we support cutting-edge research, development, and demonstration (RD&D), which is key to achieving accelerated innovation and helping the private sector support economic growth, drive down costs for key technologies, and promote corporate leadership assessment sustainability and efficiency.

I hope this effort answers the many questions I get about helping?organizations embrace sustainability principles?and become more future-proof.?

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Information

???The IEEE Global Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) Well-being Initiative?is an IEEE program whose purpose is to ensure every technologist is educated, trained, and empowered to prioritize ethical considerations in the design and development of autonomous and intelligent systems. The Initiative is global, open, and inclusive, welcoming all individuals or representatives of organizations dedicated to advancing technology for humanity. Please reach out to me directly to learn how to join the Global Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) Well-being Initiative team.

???The Road to Sustainability?is a global network to build a more efficient, safe, and inclusive world. Sustainability is a fundamental part of every organization's culture, investment goals, and actions as a responsible business undergoing changes and being transferred between paradigm shifts.

???Nevelab Technologies?is a purpose-driven platform that leverages artificial intelligence to provide organizations with the tools to integrate sustainable imperatives while generating actionable insights.

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Disclaimer

The Road to Sustainability? is an initiative by?Nevelab Technologies?and is circulated for informational and educational purposes only.

Nevelab Technologies Research utilizes data and information from the public, private and internal sources, including data from actual Nevelab open data access. While we consider information from external sources reliable, we do not assume responsibility for its accuracy.

The views expressed herein are solely those of Nevelab Technologies as of this report's date and are subject to change without notice. Nevelab Technologies may have a significant financial interest in one or more of the positions and securities or derivatives discussed. Those responsible for preparing this report receive compensation based upon various factors, including, among other things, the quality of their work and firm revenues.